†014 - tea party
[Having recently met Versailles, and finding that they both have interests in the finer things in life, Mihail has taken it upon himself to put together a formal tea party with her. Of course, anyone is invited, however, looking at the silver tea service and the hors d'oeuvres that he's carefully selected, it certainly caters to a certain type of person.
Attempting to look at least somewhat casual, while still maintaining his appearance, he attempted something a bit more low keywhich apparently "low key" means Versace.]
Attempting to look at least somewhat casual, while still maintaining his appearance, he attempted something a bit more low key
†013 - Traim pentru a manca sau mancam pentru a trai?
[Spring isn't exactly here yet, but it's warm enough now (compared to the frigid conditions of the past few weeks) for Mihail to at least open a window or two in order to banish the stuffiness of his house. It also helps with ventilating the oddly strong smell of what ever it is that he's cooking. On one end of the stove is some kind of beef soup that doesn't seem half as bad as the meat he's grilling at the moment. Said meat, called mititei, has garlic, black pepper, thyme, coriander, anise, and paprika, among several other things. It definitely smells like it. There's also some stuffed cabbage rolls, which smell exactly like how one would imagine they would smell. The only reprieve from the overpowering smell of what pretty much sums up Romanian cuisine is an innocent looking tray of coffee cake, and even that may be tainted somehow.
Of course, this is all perfectly normal, and Mihail can't smell a thing, due in part to the fact that he's eaten like this since he can remember. And, as usual when he cooks like this, he's completely happy in his endless realm of garlic powder and paprika. It's more or less a matter of who he can ward off, other than vampires.]
Of course, this is all perfectly normal, and Mihail can't smell a thing, due in part to the fact that he's eaten like this since he can remember. And, as usual when he cooks like this, he's completely happy in his endless realm of garlic powder and paprika. It's more or less a matter of who he can ward off, other than vampires.]
†012 - Ziua Marii Uniri (Unification Day)
[December is a month of holidays and remembrances for Bucharest, containing a thousand things to do all in thirty-one days. The first day is not exempt in the least, being Unification Day, celebrating the reunification of Transylvania to Romania. Usually, the celebration is filled with parades and military demonstrations, but budget cuts have left two out of six districts in Bucharest celebrating, and it's pretty much food and alcohol distribution.
Thus, Mihail has taken to sprawling on his couch, headphones on (it's Moldovan music, but hardly anyone could tell the difference) and a bottle of ţuică clutched in the crook of his elbow. Being the true Romanian he is, he just took the opportunity to get the alcohol out as it was. He's not completely drunk yet, but moreso drowsy. It gets better toward Christmas, anyway.]
Thus, Mihail has taken to sprawling on his couch, headphones on (it's Moldovan music, but hardly anyone could tell the difference) and a bottle of ţuică clutched in the crook of his elbow. Being the true Romanian he is, he just took the opportunity to get the alcohol out as it was. He's not completely drunk yet, but moreso drowsy. It gets better toward Christmas, anyway.]
†011 - The Extremely Upscale House/Apartment-Warming Party
[Upon finding out about his own apartment, Mihail was quite plainly delighted to find that, aside from obvious apartment-like changes, his room was just as it had been in HQ. Of course, it's only in his nature to want to throw a sort of housewarming party, seeing as how technically, it's still a new place. True to Bucharest style, it's a lavish sort of affair, with plenty of wine in crystal decanters, beer, whiskey, and any other amount of alcoholic beverage being strategically placed as though he was the feng shui master of inebriation. Though, that doesn't mean it's all a grand river of fermented who-knows-what, as there is some tea (exotic and well-brewed), coffee, and water.
Naturally, he wouldn't be a good host without the food, and there is certainly a gracious amount of that. The spread on his table consists of things like ciorda de peste, mamaliga with stuffed cabbage, Romanian-style pierogi, and of course pork, since no true Romanian would go without some huge amount of meat. To finish it all off as far as dessert, there's cozonaci, which he would usually save for Easter, but it's delicious no matter when you eat it, and then his centerpiece, amandine cake. All of it is covered with garnishes and decorations, naturally illuminated by candlelight.
All are welcome, seeing as how it is a party, after all. Mihail just sips at some wine on one of the sofas, dressed somewhat casually (though it is Dior, so spilling anything on it might mean death).]
Naturally, he wouldn't be a good host without the food, and there is certainly a gracious amount of that. The spread on his table consists of things like ciorda de peste, mamaliga with stuffed cabbage, Romanian-style pierogi, and of course pork, since no true Romanian would go without some huge amount of meat. To finish it all off as far as dessert, there's cozonaci, which he would usually save for Easter, but it's delicious no matter when you eat it, and then his centerpiece, amandine cake. All of it is covered with garnishes and decorations, naturally illuminated by candlelight.
All are welcome, seeing as how it is a party, after all. Mihail just sips at some wine on one of the sofas, dressed somewhat casually (though it is Dior, so spilling anything on it might mean death).]
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†010 - {edit} grasping the remnants of summer
[ooc: sorry! had to redo the post because i didn't like it. xD]
[Standing out by the lake, Mihail keeps his hands in his jeans pockets, watching the water passively. Summer went by fast and that served to make him almost nostalgic for it, or for being home in the summer in general. Then again, he might not want to be home now, what with the Roma deportations from France. So, he's a little but pissed off, but true to his nature, he doesn't express it in any other way than standing very still.
The lake breeze is nice, and good for stress relief, but he's not sure what else to do. It's getting cold anyway, and summer activities are now incredibly limited. With a sigh, he kicks at a lone rock, watching it skip and tumble down into the wander with a quiet 'splish'. Kicking rocks is certainly better than raging at politics anyway.
So yes, there's a lone Bucharest outside, and company surely wouldn't bother him in the least.]
[Standing out by the lake, Mihail keeps his hands in his jeans pockets, watching the water passively. Summer went by fast and that served to make him almost nostalgic for it, or for being home in the summer in general. Then again, he might not want to be home now, what with the Roma deportations from France. So, he's a little but pissed off, but true to his nature, he doesn't express it in any other way than standing very still.
The lake breeze is nice, and good for stress relief, but he's not sure what else to do. It's getting cold anyway, and summer activities are now incredibly limited. With a sigh, he kicks at a lone rock, watching it skip and tumble down into the wander with a quiet 'splish'. Kicking rocks is certainly better than raging at politics anyway.
So yes, there's a lone Bucharest outside, and company surely wouldn't bother him in the least.]
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†009 - Let the dead lie
[To Mihail, and generally most of the Romanian population, twenty years has not been such a long time. In fact, it's still very recent for most. Twenty years ago, the Romanian Revolution took place in Bucharest in a period of three days of street warfare in order to bring down the dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu. At the time, he had paid off all of Romania's debts to the world, but at a cost that the money used to pay debts was all the money Romania had. Τhen, he decided to build the biggest building in all of Europe for his palace, which left most of Romania poverty-stricken and miserable. At the end of the Revolution, he and his infamous wife, Elena, were executed for all of the Romanian people to see. It was a moment of victory for the Romanian people, and it was the only violent overthrow of a ruler in modern European history (aside from the Russian Revolution).
However, questions have been raised since if it was truly a revolution or another political party's coup d'état. Ceausescu's children have been some of the loudest leaders of this questioning, and thus have wanted DNA testing done to their parents' bodies to see if it is truly their remains in the graves. If so, they plan to have a large funeral for the dictator, in which a good portion of Bucharesters are not pleased with.
The Revolution and the dictator's regime are still fresh in Mihail's memory, and just as well, this news infuriates him. He would have much rather had Ceausescu stay in his grave and rot there than be dug up just so there can be some extravagant funeral for someone who had nearly ruined the city. So he's now in his room, nearly steaming over the news and trying to take deep breaths to keep himself from throwing a fit.]
However, questions have been raised since if it was truly a revolution or another political party's coup d'état. Ceausescu's children have been some of the loudest leaders of this questioning, and thus have wanted DNA testing done to their parents' bodies to see if it is truly their remains in the graves. If so, they plan to have a large funeral for the dictator, in which a good portion of Bucharesters are not pleased with.
The Revolution and the dictator's regime are still fresh in Mihail's memory, and just as well, this news infuriates him. He would have much rather had Ceausescu stay in his grave and rot there than be dug up just so there can be some extravagant funeral for someone who had nearly ruined the city. So he's now in his room, nearly steaming over the news and trying to take deep breaths to keep himself from throwing a fit.]
†008 - Mihail in a vampire mood
[It's been awhile since Mihail unearthed his old copy of the original 'Dracula' movie, with all the Bela Lugosi and the 'children of the night', plus garlic, holy water, etc. Just starting to watch it, he's already laughing out loud and making jokes in Romanian, probably pertaining to the legend. His favorite part is the, "Leesten to them! Cheeldren off tha night! What muuusic they make!" line, since it's in the most hilarious accent, at least to him.
In a moment of what might be considered irony, Mihail is noshing on some popcorn flavored with garlic, wearing his honorary 'University of Transylvania' shirt he got as a birthday present one year. Usually, Bucharest doesn't cash in on the vampire legend, since that's more of a Carpathian job. However, it has helped the economy considerably, and all funds from the Carpathian towns flow on down to the capital, so Mihail had to show some respect eventually. Besides, he's found it somewhat amusing to mess with people before on his 'immortal' status.
Feel free to join him, prod at him, or question his supernatural status, should he have one. After all, the actual man known as Dracula (Vlad Tepes III, thank you very much) did have a villa in Bucharest once, and he's considered a natural hero!]
In a moment of what might be considered irony, Mihail is noshing on some popcorn flavored with garlic, wearing his honorary 'University of Transylvania' shirt he got as a birthday present one year. Usually, Bucharest doesn't cash in on the vampire legend, since that's more of a Carpathian job. However, it has helped the economy considerably, and all funds from the Carpathian towns flow on down to the capital, so Mihail had to show some respect eventually. Besides, he's found it somewhat amusing to mess with people before on his 'immortal' status.
Feel free to join him, prod at him, or question his supernatural status, should he have one. After all, the actual man known as Dracula (Vlad Tepes III, thank you very much) did have a villa in Bucharest once, and he's considered a natural hero!]
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†007 - Mending old wounds except not.
[Once again, for what seems like the millionth time in Mihail's existence, the politics of Romania have screwed him over, except now, it seems somehow different. For decades after Moldova separated from Romania and became its own country, the tensions between the countries and the capital cities have been almost unbearable. And now with recent news, it feels like a whiplash from being at each others' throats to suddenly being *~*best friends*~* with someone he hasn't been very fond of lately.
What's worse is that his own personal history with Chisinau hasn't exactly been the sparkling star of happiness. It started off nicely, yes, but after separation and some very nasty comments and actions, it's gotten down to outright warfare between the two. After all, in the time Moldova was part of Romania, Chisinau was just another small city. There's definitely been room for bitterness.
So not only are the memories of the Cold War biting at him, but this news has put him in a mixed mood. Yes, he's happy that Moldova and Romania are working things out, but he doesn't like that it directly involves Chisinau and himself.
People are free to talk to him, be it bother him because he's already in a pissy mood, or make him feel better, as he's happy speaking to any of his ex-Soviet Bloc neighbors.]
What's worse is that his own personal history with Chisinau hasn't exactly been the sparkling star of happiness. It started off nicely, yes, but after separation and some very nasty comments and actions, it's gotten down to outright warfare between the two. After all, in the time Moldova was part of Romania, Chisinau was just another small city. There's definitely been room for bitterness.
So not only are the memories of the Cold War biting at him, but this news has put him in a mixed mood. Yes, he's happy that Moldova and Romania are working things out, but he doesn't like that it directly involves Chisinau and himself.
People are free to talk to him, be it bother him because he's already in a pissy mood, or make him feel better, as he's happy speaking to any of his ex-Soviet Bloc neighbors.]
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†006 - Eurovision Selecţia Naţională
[Bucharest hasn't left his room for the better part of a week, on account of the competition of Eurovision heating up. After all, as he, his siblings, and his mother agree, Romania should have won last year, and the year before that, and the year before that. And who thought it was a good idea to disqualify Andra & Simplu, anyway? They were real winners, and everyone back home knows that. Besides, even where that not-so-dynamic duo fell short, Todomondo was still amazing.
So this year, he's gearing up to win, even if the competition is about as rigged as an election. Honestly, to him, nothing sounds better than 'BUCHAREST 2011'.
He's been reviewing every contestant from every country (and he's pretty sure he's got a flying advantage over Moldova this year, so that's enough to be happy about as it is) and staking out the real competition.
His playing chip this year? This little catchy number, that's what. (Even if both he and Moldova's song mention running away in some form, huh.) Yeah, you can't argue with perfection. Plus, his country is the first to reveal their finalist, while Moldova is the thirty-fifth. Oh yeah, this is going to be awesome.]
So this year, he's gearing up to win, even if the competition is about as rigged as an election. Honestly, to him, nothing sounds better than 'BUCHAREST 2011'.
He's been reviewing every contestant from every country (and he's pretty sure he's got a flying advantage over Moldova this year, so that's enough to be happy about as it is) and staking out the real competition.
His playing chip this year? This little catchy number, that's what. (Even if both he and Moldova's song mention running away in some form, huh.) Yeah, you can't argue with perfection. Plus, his country is the first to reveal their finalist, while Moldova is the thirty-fifth. Oh yeah, this is going to be awesome.]
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†005 - Forced spring cleaning (but not upset about it!)
[For the first time in a few weeks, Mihail seems pretty sprightly and upbeat. At the moment in particular, he's all too happily washing some plates in his sink, a laundry basket by his feet and the marks of a crusade on the carpet with a vacuum cleaner present on the floor. Due to a warning given to his relatives, he's all the more content in the fact that he's one of the most environmentally friendly cities in Europe! The environmental warning feels more like a 'neener, neener' to his family, and he's almost show-offy about the whole thing because he's clean.
Unfortunately, the warning might not be heeded very well, but that doesn't mean that Mihail's any bit upset about having to clean. In fact, he seems more than happy to do so. After all, spring is in the air and with that comes the cleaning!
He's opened some windows and his door to air the place out for that very purpose, and while he won't get angry about anyone tracking in with muddy boots, he will cringe. After all, those vomit stains from a few weeks ago were hell to wash out, and he doesn't want traces of his effort ironically wiped clean. He has his MP3 player hooked up, playing something from Eurovision from a few years ago. And don't laugh about his music choice because you know it's catchy. He's even mouthing the words along with it.]
Unfortunately, the warning might not be heeded very well, but that doesn't mean that Mihail's any bit upset about having to clean. In fact, he seems more than happy to do so. After all, spring is in the air and with that comes the cleaning!
He's opened some windows and his door to air the place out for that very purpose, and while he won't get angry about anyone tracking in with muddy boots, he will cringe. After all, those vomit stains from a few weeks ago were hell to wash out, and he doesn't want traces of his effort ironically wiped clean. He has his MP3 player hooked up, playing something from Eurovision from a few years ago. And don't laugh about his music choice because you know it's catchy. He's even mouthing the words along with it.]
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†004 - I used to live alone before I knew you
[It wasn't like Mihail thought it wasn't going to happen. After all, how would he and Yuri be any exception? Perhaps it's one of those blessing-and-curse moments, where they got Nadezhda longer than most people kept their child, but alternatively, they got more attached in that time. So this hurts more than it should. It hurt looking at the pseudo-nest of pillows on his bed and realizing it was empty. It hurt realizing that all the tickle attacks that got her out of a bad mood weren't going to happen anymore. It hurt knowing that all the self-made jars of baby food were now useless and destined for the trashcan. It hurt more than anything to realize that he was never going to curl up beside her and hum her to sleep.
And now it's led to Mihail perching on the edge of the couch, a half-drained bottle of absinthe held between his knees, staring mindlessly at the carpet in front of his fireplace like that will somehow bring her back. It won't, and he knows that. He really can't find the proverbial silver lining on a cloud, or anything to keep him optimistic for that matter. Really, it's just been him reprimanding himself for getting attached, getting angry at the building for doing something like that, and dwelling continuously on what he's lost.]
And now it's led to Mihail perching on the edge of the couch, a half-drained bottle of absinthe held between his knees, staring mindlessly at the carpet in front of his fireplace like that will somehow bring her back. It won't, and he knows that. He really can't find the proverbial silver lining on a cloud, or anything to keep him optimistic for that matter. Really, it's just been him reprimanding himself for getting attached, getting angry at the building for doing something like that, and dwelling continuously on what he's lost.]
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†003 - Childcare
[Mihail has never really had much of a chance to practice his fathering skills (do suburbs even count?) so this is definitely something else. Perhaps it wouldn't be half as odd if the child he got from HQ wasn't also Norilsk's child. That isn't to say that it's a bad thing, seeing as how the newly-christened Nadezhda is not only adorable but very well-behaved. Mihail's definitely taken a shine to her.
It's just... Well, it's awkward, seeing as how her parents can easily be submerged into a very vicious cycle in their relationship, so this is certainly a questionable situation.
All backstory aside, they've decided to relocate to Mihail's room with Nadezhda for the time being, though Mihail's really stuck as to how to take care of her when he has absolutely nothing in his room that a baby could use. Fun times in parenthood, indeed.]
It's just... Well, it's awkward, seeing as how her parents can easily be submerged into a very vicious cycle in their relationship, so this is certainly a questionable situation.
All backstory aside, they've decided to relocate to Mihail's room with Nadezhda for the time being, though Mihail's really stuck as to how to take care of her when he has absolutely nothing in his room that a baby could use. Fun times in parenthood, indeed.]
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†002 - Definitely not allergic to garlic.
[Mihail decided that he needed to get around to cooking something. Back at home, this time of year yields some of the best food his country has to offer. Lucky for him, he's got the blessing of being a pretty decent cook. However, this only really applies to food from his region (Romanian food is more like Turkish, Russian, Ukrainian, and German food combined) so things like hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, and pizza aren't exactly within his...skills.
So he's going at making any number of things, specifically mamaliga (Romanian "peasant" cornbread that goes great with sour cream), frigarui (really spiced up kebabs), and of all things, baklava. There seems to be a cloud of garlic powder and any number of spices floating around him, and there's a gratuitous amount of pork, among other meat. Romanians like their meat, y'know.
This is more like stress relief for him, other than just traditional winter cooking time. He hasn't had the best month and he's just gotten over being sick for the umpteenth time, so cooking seems like an awesome stress reliever.
He's more than willing to share (his inner Romanian grandma will probably say you look too skinny and then shove some mamaliga in your mouth), but there is a degree of acquired taste to this stuff, except maybe the baklava.]
So he's going at making any number of things, specifically mamaliga (Romanian "peasant" cornbread that goes great with sour cream), frigarui (really spiced up kebabs), and of all things, baklava. There seems to be a cloud of garlic powder and any number of spices floating around him, and there's a gratuitous amount of pork, among other meat. Romanians like their meat, y'know.
This is more like stress relief for him, other than just traditional winter cooking time. He hasn't had the best month and he's just gotten over being sick for the umpteenth time, so cooking seems like an awesome stress reliever.
He's more than willing to share (his inner Romanian grandma will probably say you look too skinny and then shove some mamaliga in your mouth), but there is a degree of acquired taste to this stuff, except maybe the baklava.]
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†001 - What do they expect me to do?
[Romania's elections have recently taken place, with some odd results. Two major parties tied and in an attempt to help political and economical situations, the country has declared a New Centralist government, definitely in contrast of their past communist government. However, this new turn has left the capital feeling rather off and somewhat ill. Mihail has taken to reclining on his couch, trying to settle his churning stomach and battling a very persistent headache. After all, there's obvious unrest at home and he can feel all of it.
As of now, he's curled up in a parka (real fur-lined, indeed) and in more nauseous moments, he seems to think a glass of absinthe can help, so he's been making return trips to the kitchen and thus, slowly draining an absinthe bottle. He's confused enough that he doesn't realize it's only making him feel worse. Hopefully, things will die down over Christmas enough for a reprieve, but there doesn't seem to be any signs of that.]
As of now, he's curled up in a parka (real fur-lined, indeed) and in more nauseous moments, he seems to think a glass of absinthe can help, so he's been making return trips to the kitchen and thus, slowly draining an absinthe bottle. He's confused enough that he doesn't realize it's only making him feel worse. Hopefully, things will die down over Christmas enough for a reprieve, but there doesn't seem to be any signs of that.]